Making the Case to Embrace Modern Device Management

Strategically-minded IT organizations are rethinking their existing tools for a more simplified, user-centric, modern device and application management approach, and embracing cloud-first for all workloads. This blog will discuss how implementing MDM/UEM empowers employees to work smarter from anywhere at any time and on any device; and results in a simpler, more secure environment to manage while significantly reducing Total Cost of Ownership.

Pursuing Modern Device Management

There are several reasons why Traditional IT teams are moving away from Traditional IT management. The top catalysts for the transition to MDM are:

To shorten the amount of time it takes for an end user to receive a configured device — PC Deployment has traditionally been a high-touch labor intensive process involving several parties: distributors, system integrators, resellers or internal IT organizations.

To proactively meet end users’ changing needs, by providing remote and self-service capabilities, mobile-cloud based applications, and devices that work anywhere and anytime with minimal disruption while operating, updating or replacing systems.

To replace traditional on-premises PC lifecycle management tools that cannot meet Modern IT Management demands such as data security, end-user expectations and the proliferation of the number and types of devices used.

To conform to Windows 10 and the new continuous improvement and securing service model that’s infiltrating every part of the industry – OEMs, Distributors, System Integrators, IT departments and end-users alike.To reduce IT cost, manage more, and adapt and react faster to business and market needs. (It’s estimated there’s 80% Total Cost of Ownership associated with deployment management and support of a single PC alone.)

Figure 1: Traditional deployment (10K PCs) = $340/PC.

Managing Modern Device Management for the PC

Although Modern Device Management has existed for a while, it did not translate well into the PC space. With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft included many core components to allow the PC to be managed using Modern Management principles.

Modern Provisioning, a collection of technologies, enables the automation of processes to configure and deploy directly to an end user with minimal or no touch by a third party (to zero-touch deployment). It is only a piece of Modern Device Management; also known as Unified Endpoint Management.

VMware with their Airwatch and now WorkspaceOne, has been leading the market for a while now, and continue to innovate while part of the Dell Technology family with the introduction of Unified Workspace In addition, Microsoft has revamped their line of productivity and management products (Microsoft 365) to support the new model and new technologies and new solutions being offered such as modern provisioning.

Figure 2: Modern Device Management: A Disruptor

Implementing MDM/UEM results in a simpler, more secure environment to manage while significantly reducing Total Cost of Ownership. It also provides a better end user experience and an increase in end user satisfaction.

From an IT perspective, some of the key benefits of the Modern Device Management Model include:

Single management console for all your devices

Secure Remote management

Device Reset and Wipe

Deployment Cost Savings

Infrastructure Cost Savings

Supports BYOD

Regularity Compliance

Device Update Control

Application Control

Improved end-user satisfaction

Ultimately, MDM technology helps organizations achieve and maintain a single view of master data across an entire enterprise, enabling business and IT initiatives to perform in better unison, ample opportunities to increase revenue, reduce costs and risks, achieve effective compliance, and improve business agility.

It is a cloud-based centric model where authentication, authorization and automation are securely provided anywhere/anytime.

Traditional locally stored data and internal file shares will also be moving to the cloud, providing always-available and secure file storage. Common tools already widely used include OneDrive for Business, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, DropBox and many others.

OS and Application updates are delivered from the Internet and dedicated business images are no longer needed.

Reliability on user profile assignment is key to delivering the needed device transformation including policies, applications, data access rules to be used.

All of the items above drive impact on the network, and some rethinking will BE needed.

There is a 3-step process to deploying a Device at a high level:

Device Registration — allows the device to be registered to a particular organization prior to leaving the factory.

Device Enrollment— enrolls end user devices into MDM system (Intune, WS1, Mobile Iron, and others), enabling Windows 10 devices to access an organization’s secure data, including email, files and other resources; and helps secure access for both end users and the organization. Enrollment also keeps work data separate from personal data.

Dell Technologies Deployment Services

Dell Technologies has been a pioneer in Factory Services, allowing customers to automate and move tasks to configuration centers before devices ship. It has been doing this for 30+ years and currently delivers millions of pre-configured corporate devices per year.

The company supported Modern Device Management early on, creating new services to support our early adopters and working in concert with Microsoft and VMware to define and improve their solutions. Dell Provisioning for Workspace One and Windows Autopilot are just a couple of examples. Whatever the customer platform of choice, Dell Technologies Services has many offerings to help IT organizations adopt the new Modern Device Management models, regardless of where they are in their journey.

Summary

MDM is key to having a fully modern and productive enterprise, empowering workers with the applications that they need, when they need them. Please connect with a Dell Technologies Services representative to learn how we can help your organization create a roadmap to Modernization, enabling a modern approach to device and application management.

About Jorge Pereira

EUC Solutions Principal, Dell Technologies Services

As a Technology Consultant, Strategist and Program Manager Jorge has supported many organizations through the deployment and management of technology in order to achieve their business goals by assessing, developing and executing strategic plans that result in cost-effective business and information technology solutions. Jorge brings over 25 years of experience in IT strategic planning, systems integration, software development and deployment services.

With a proven track record in the successful leadership of large technology projects, Jorge is passionate about collaborating with teams to drive the implementation of technology to meet business goals. Over the past few years, Jorge has focused on customers solutions in the areas of: End-User-Computing (EUC) Lifecycle Management Services, Modern Device Management, Windows 10 migrations and maintenance, Workspace Transformation including IT consumerization and BYOD strategies.